Dynamic renal blood flow measurement by positron emission tomography in patients with CRF.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) is a functional imaging device that allows dynamic regional blood flow measurements. We performed a study to test whether PET could detect acute changes in renal blood flow (RBF) in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF).

Methods: RBF was measured by means of PET (PET-RBF) using oxygen 15-labeled water (H2(15)O) in eight men with hypertension and moderate CRF before and 5, 40, 80, and 120 minutes after the injection of quinaprilat (10 mg intravenously).